Chapter Text
The Hotel room was cold. Probably a busted radiator, he couldn’t exactly afford the most high end luxurious stuff, on his minimum wage pay slip. The covers were around the bottom of the bed, barely covering his feet. But why? Clint didn’t care as he got up and got changed into some boxers and jeans to try and shield himself from the cold. Once they were on, the shirt followed.
Wallet? Check.
Phone? Check.
Note? Che- He did not remember putting this in his back pocket.
It’s got his name on it. Is it a used receipt? Waitrose? Definitely not his then.
‘Clint,
You were right. We knew this wasn’t going to work out. But we couldn’t help giving into you this one time.
Did you expect me to leave James for you? You’re not exactly parental material yet Clint. Could you just drop everything and come to us. You don’t even have your own savings account.
Of course, you would. That stupid heart of yours follows love and wraps your brain up into thinking that’s the best option.
You deserve something better than this.
I hope you can can learn to stop caring about the people who always hurt you.
Yours truly’
Clint’s that same 16-year-old who walked out of that house in tears.
The 28-year-old who broke down when Bobbi left.
The same gullible idiot who put his trust in everyone he surrounded.
He reached for his phone as he quickly dialled the only number that he could think of right now, the one person who he could only memorise.
“ What time do you call this? It’s fucking 6:30 am. What are you - Are you crying?” Barney’s voice dropped a little towards the end. No joking around. The silence apart from the quiet sobs on Clint’s end was quite telling. “Tell me where you are Clint. I’m coming to get you.” And as soon as he did, that’s all that had to be said as the line went dead.
His phone was still clutched in his hand along with that letter as he walked out of the room, limited possessions on hand. Rain was pouring it down as soon as he stepped out into the street, which seeped into his clothes and made them uncomfortably stick to his skin.
He’s stood on the street, letting his hair stick to his forehead, as the tears blend into the rain. Nobody is out here. Nobody to see his moments of pure vulnerability.
Clint really wasn’t father material. He wasn’t anything material. Stupid him for thinking that happiness could ever be in his possession. It was not something he deserved.
The next thing he knows, there’s warmth around him, and he’s being huddled into a car.
“You could have waited inside, moron. What do you call this? You're going to get yourself killed.” Barney… Clint just rest’s his head back on the seat and keeps his eyes closed. “What’s wrong? Hey no. Stop crying, you know I can’t deal with that.” That big hand is clutching his shoulder as he sobs. He feels like a child all over again. That’s all he is, all he ever has been. A Child. Never growing up.
“They left me. Used me. I feel… I feel really gross.” It’s all he can get out, without breaking into more sobs.
“Let me get you a Mcdonalds breakfast. On me this time.” Barney knows he doesn’t want to talk about it. And that food is the best remedy to just about everything. “I’m not going nowhere okay? You can try. But I’m a roach, I’m never gonna ya.” That’s probably about as serious as he was gonna get. “Now what will you be having?”